Percutaneous nephrolithotomy, Opens dialog

Treatment Overview

This procedure is used to remove kidney stones.

The doctor makes a small incision in your back. The doctor then puts a hollow tube into your kidney and a probe through the tube.

• In nephrolithotomy, Opens dialog, the doctor removes the stone through the tube.
• In nephrolithotripsy, the doctor breaks the stone up and then removes the fragments of the stone through the tube.

You need either general anesthesia, Opens dialog or regional or spinal anesthesia, Opens dialog during this procedure. A small tube (catheter) may be inserted into the kidney to drain urine until the kidney heals.